Book Review: Gospel Assurance & Warnings by Paul Washer

Gospel Assurance & Warnings

by Paul Washer

Paul Washer's new book Gospel Assurance & Warnings is the third book in his Rediscovering the Gospel trilogy. These books are written to rightly set forth the truth of the gospel of Christ. This book, as the title aptly informs, is broken up into two sections; assurance and warnings. The assurance section walks the believer through key texts in the book of I John on how we can know that we have been truly born again. By examining the qualities John lists as signs of the new birth, we are encouraged that these are evidences of saving faith. Washer does a very good job in explaining these important truths in a simple, yet straight forward way. Even when coming to difficult or often misunderstood passages, the clear meaning of the scripture is declared then applied. 

The last portion of the book deals with the great error of easy believism and the sinners prayer, and the false professions they encourage and create and is centered on sections of the Sermon on the Mount. It is a terribly dreadful proposition to consider that many church members do not know what it is to be born again and many preachers are assuring these false converts giving hope where there is no hope. Because of the sinners prayer (bad theology put into practice) countless have been deceived by pastors and evangelists that they have been saved because they repeated a prayer when the Bible gives a very different gospel and description to what it is to have saving faith. This book points out the error then gives the evidences of saving faith.

Washer’s writing style is impassioned, clear, and steeped with Biblical passages and imagery which is a refreshing change from other popular authors who like to mince words. The way in which Washer simultaneously asserts Biblical truth while denouncing false preachers and theology put me in mind somewhat of writing of A.W. Pink.

This book would be very helpful for one who is having doubts about their salvation or a new convert learning about what it truly means to be born again. The exhortations, warnings, and clear Biblical instructions found in this book are to be commended.

My thanks to Cross Focused Reviews for providing me a copy.